NXT MAY 22ND 2019
The show opened with Regal explaining the NXT Tag Team Title situation. He mentioned that there were no champions, so apparently Viking Raiders leaving the titles in the ring after the brawl last week was them vacating the titles. And he announced there’d be a fourway at Takeover between Street Profits, Forgotten Sons, Burch and Lorcan and Fish and O’Reilly in a ladder match for the vacant titles, which makes Street Profits getting the visual pin over Viking Raiders in the brawl and Viking Raiders taking out the other two teams in a rage last week a little odd. Feels like Fish and O’Reilly were thrown in last minute, but given the promo that followed, maybe not.
Undisputed Era would then come out for a promo. Cole said they were going nowhere and were back on the same page. He claimed they’d be draped in gold soon and said it would start with Fish and O’Reilly winning the Tag Titles and then he’d take the NXT Championship from Gargano. That brought Gargano out, who said Cole could never beat him on his own. Cole reminded Gargano that he beat him in the first fall in New York on his own, so Gargano reminded him that you needed to win two falls in a two out of three falls match, with Cole arguing his case until Riddle ran in from the crowd to attack Undisputed Era. Gargano helped Riddle clear the ring and referees ran out to separate everyone, setting up the main event.
Sean Maluta vs. Mansoor
Commentary hyped that both of these guys had faced tough opponents in the past and were looking to get on the winning end. Mansoor would be the one to get that win after a slingshot neckbreaker and a twisting reverse suplex, which was the right result, as Mansoor’s got obvious upside.
Cathy was stood outside Regal’s office, with Regal berating Undisputed Era. Cathy questioned Regal about it after Undisputed Era left and Regal announced Riddle versus Strong for Takeover and Riddle teaming with Gargano against Fish and O’Reilly in the main event.
Velveteen Dream came out and cut a promo, which really existed purely to be quickly interrupted, by the return of Tyler Breeze. Breeze got a big reaction and clearly seemed happy to be back. He insinuated that Dream was a cheap impersonator and a wannabee knock-off of him, but there was only one Prince Pretty. Dream responded by saying the NXT spotlight wanted a real man and not a boy who plays cops and robbers, before telling Breeze he couldn’t demand the NXT spotlight just because he couldn’t cut it on Mondays or Tuesdays. It ended with Dream offering a selfie with the champ and Breeze laying him out with a punch.
Cathy then spoke with Breeze outside the building, with Breeze saying he just wanted to introduce Dream to an inspired Tyler Breeze.
Candice LaRae vs. Reina Gonzalez
This was a short, but decent enough, little versus big match, which Candice won with the quebrada. Post match, Baszler came out with Marina and Jessamyn and they surrounded Candice, but Io made the save with a kendo stick when they attacked.
Johnny Gargano and Matt Riddle vs. Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly
A good main event to close out the show. Riddle fought off both Fish and O’Reilly in the middle of the match until his injured ribs gave out, at which point Fish and O’Reilly took over on Riddle for a while. After a back and forth finish after Gargano got the hot tag, Cole would end up coming out and was wiped out with a dive by Gargano. That allowed Strong to attack Riddle with the referee distracted and a high/low from Fish and O’Reilly got them the pin over Riddle. Gargano and Riddle would then get beaten down post match for good measure.
RECOMMENDED VIEWING: The main event tag was the standout part of the show, with the Dream and Breeze confrontation being fun for the reaction for Breeze and Io’s attack on Baszler and co getting over with the crowd as well.
NXT WEEK: Mia Yim versus Bianca Belair and KUSHIDA against Drew Gulak.